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UK-Peru workshop: Relationship between food, nutrition and health

Location: Lima, PeruDate:
21-27 May 2018Time: 09:00 - 17:00

We are pleased to announce that ESRC will join the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as partners in a Medical Research Council (MRC) led call with Peru’s National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC). The call will be launched later this year and will focus on the relationship between food, nutrition and health research in Peru.

In advance of this call, the funders will hold a workshop for researchers in Lima, Peru, to discuss the key research challenges that relate to the aims of this programme and to explore UK-Peruvian opportunities for collaboration in this research area.

Scope

'Dietary risks' are the single biggest risk factor driving death and disability in Peru. In this context, Peru faces significant maternal, neonatal and nutritional challenges, as well as an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases including anaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, chronic malnutrition and stunting.

Tackling Peruvian nutrition challenges must be founded on an in-depth understanding of the links between diet, nutrition and health, as well as other factors that determine nutritional patterns. Such understanding must rely on a holistic approach to nutrition research, requiring strong interactions between disciplines such as biological, nutritional, health and medical sciences, food production and supply systems, the social sciences, as well as a greater understanding of relevant historical and cultural factors.

Interdisciplinary partnerships are increasingly needed to deliver the robust and authoritative evidence base which is crucial to the development of, for example, healthier food products, the optimisation and stratification of dietary guidelines, and the determination and delivery of effective intervention strategies.

In recognition of this, CONCYTEC and MRC (the latter in partnership with BBSRC, ESRC and AHRC) will later this year launch a joint Newton Fund call for proposals with a view to supporting excellent UK-Peruvian research partnerships seeking to address the nutrition and diet related health challenges faced by the Peruvian population, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

The workshop

The upcoming workshop will be an opportunity for UK researchers to meet researchers from Peruvian institutions. The agenda for the workshop will include time for networking and sharing information about UK and Peruvian research expertise and areas of interest, as well as visits to leading research centres in and around Lima.

We would like to see expressions of interest from academics who would be interested in representing their institution at this workshop in Lima, Peru, week commencing 21 May 2018. Costs of the UK attendees will be covered by MRC.

How to apply

Further details and information on how to apply can be found on the MRC's website.